IGPBS Core Curriculum

Module 1:
Thermodynamics, Protein Structure, and Analysis of Reaction/Binding Kinetics (IGPBS 891, 3 credit hours). Course content covers basic principles and advanced topics of thermodynamics, protein structure, and analysis of the reaction kinetics involved in substrate/enzyme interactions and ligand/receptor interactions.

Module 2:
Cell Metabolism (IGPBS 892, 1 hour). Course content covers basic principles and advanced aspects of the biochemical processes underlying cellular metabolism.

Module 3:
Molecular Biology (IGPBS 893, 4 hours). Course content covers basic principles and advanced aspects of prokaryotic and eukaryotic molecular biology with topics such as DNA structure, transcriptional and translational mechanisms, and mechanisms of gene expression.

Module 4:
Cell and Developmental Biology (IGPBS 894, 5 hours). Course content covers basic principles and advanced aspects of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell biology. It will cover topics such as structure/function relationships of membranes and organelle systems, ECM structure, integrated aspects of protein processing/sorting, and edocytosis. Early aspects of development such as the relationship of gene expression to embryonic pattern formation will also be covered.

Module 5:
Molecular and Physiological Basis of Disease (IGPBS 895, 3 hours). Course content covers the impact of disease on the major organ systems of the body using an integration of biochemical, molecular, structural, and physiological approaches.

Module 6:
BioGraphics (IGPBS 896, 1 hour). The objective of the course is to teach students how to organize and present data in a clear and concise manner at national meetings. Students are taught basic principles of organizing data for presentation and then learn through the actual presentation of data in simulated platform sessions held in the course. Videotapes are made of the presentations, and students are then given a constructive critique of their presentation by the instructor and fellow students.

Module 7:
Research Rotations (IGPBS 897, 2-4 hours). The course will introduce students to research methods, experimental design, and the types of biomedical research conducted at KUMC. The first research rotation begins halfway through the first semester; the second and third research rotations will occur in the second semester. It is designed to help students determine which faculty member they will select as a research adviser for their doctoral research.

Module 8:
Introduction to Faculty Research (IGPBS 898, 1 hour). This course was created to provide students with sufficient introduction to the research conducted at KUMC. To facilitate this point, the course is designed as a seminar series. In each session of the series, three faculty members present a brief 20-minute overview of their research programs. The series will help students to select faculty for research rotations and ultimately help them determine which faculty member they will select as a research adviser for their doctoral research.

Module 9:
Introduction to Research Ethics (IGPBS 901, 1 hour). The objective of the course is to introduce students to research ethics. Students will learn and discuss some of the following areas of ethics in research: (1) sources of errors in science, (2) scientific fraud, (3) plagiarism and misrepresentation, (4) conflicts of interest and (5) confidentiality.

IGPBS Core Curriculum Semester 1

IGPBS Core Curriculum Semester 2